• Tue, February 18, 2025

by: Politico

Platkin and the resistance

While I very much doubt that Platkin wanted Trump to be elected, he is now part of a group of Democratic attorneys general who have arguably been the only effective resistance so far to the new administration.

by: BBC

US Social Security boss steps down after reportedly clashing with Doge

Michelle King left because of a reported disagreement over Elon Musk-led Doge staffers accessing sensitive data.

by: Sky

England's top judge condemns Starmer and Badenoch comments on Gaza family coming to UK on Ukraine scheme

The Labour and Conservative leaders spoke out in PMQs against an immigration tribunal allowing a Gazan family to come to the UK under the Ukraine scheme.

by: KPBS

White House says Elon Musk is not in charge of DOGE - legally, anyway

by: AOL

Analysis-France's latest pensions battle could ignite fresh political crisis

President Emmanuel Macron braved strikes and street protests to force through a deeply unpopular reform in 2023 raising France's retirement age by two years to 64, saying it was the only way to keep the generous but costly pension system afloat.

by: PBS

Looking to slash Medicaid funding, Republicans consider cutting billions of dollars

Republican lawmakers could try to siphon billions of dollars from the nearly-free health care coverage offered to the poorest Americans.

by: Newsweek

Social Security's COBOL Software Comes Under Scrutiny

Elon Musk's investigation of federal government systems highlighted Social Security's reliance on software developed in the 1950s.

by: Oregonian

Republicans worry Trump's firings of federal workers will hit red states hard

The DOGE push to downsize government employees will hit the coalition that elected Trump,' a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, wrote.

by: scrippsnews

Judge won't place restraining order on Elon Musk and DOGE in state AG case

A federal judge has declined to grant a request for a temporary restraining order against Elon Musk and DOGE. State attorneys general argue his making government changes is unconstitutional.

by: Slate

Meet the Disabled Vets, Cancer Researchers, and Nuclear Techs Fired by Elon Musk "For Cause"

Musk's vulture-capitalist approach to dismantling the federal government may be opening the door to wrongful termination lawsuits.

by: WPLG

Senate GOP pushes ahead with budget bill that funds Trump's mass deportations and border wall

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans pushed ahead late Tuesday on a scaled-back budget bill, a $340 billion package to give the Trump administration money for mass deportations and other priorities, as Democrats prepare a counter-campaign against the onslaught of actions coming from the White House.

by: CNN

US and Russia discuss Ukraine war as Trump's federal overhaul takes shape

Trump administration and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia for talks on ending the Ukraine war as President Donald Trump continues to forge ahead with his overhaul of the US government. Follow for live updates.

by: MSN

In joint interview, Trump outlines Musk's role as enforcer-in-chief

US President Donald Trump painted Elon Musk as his enforcer-in-chief Tuesday, hailing the tech billionaire's zeal in implementing the blizzard of executive orders the president has issued since returning to office.

by: MSN

Is the US Congress powerless against Elon Musk's D.O.G.E?

by: Slate

I Just Figured Out What Elon Musk's DOGE Really Is

It's how things worked when you went to the Cosa Nostra to ask for protection for you and your family in exchange for some portion of your own resources.

by: CNN

'Good luck with that.' Trump administration terminates privacy officials at agency overseeing government hiring and firing

The Trump administration has quietly fired multiple members of the "privacy team" and other officials from the office that oversees the hiring of federal workers, a move that limits outside access to government records related to the security clearances granted to Elon Musk and his associates,

by: Newsweek

Steve Bannon Escalates Feud With Elon Musk: 'Parasitic Illegal Immigrant'

The former Trump adviser accused the Tesla CEO of using his influence to push an agenda that disregards American traditions.

by: Slate

Is This a Constitutional Crisis? Wrong Question.

The legalists just want to have a big old fight that lands up at the Supreme Court about the unitary executive and big conservative principles, and the monarchic view of the presidency they've been pushing for a very long time.

by: MSN

JFK Presidential Library in Boston Abruptly Closes 'Until Further Notice'

John F. Kennedy Library Foundation posted to its social media pages that it is closing without further explanation.

by: MSN

If Trump and Musk want to root out corruption, I know just where they can start

Jen Psaki explains why President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's pledge to root out corruption rings hollow, as the pair cultivates corruption that serves them.

by: Slate

What Happens Next in the Eric Adams Case? It's Up to One Judge.

Judge Ho will have a hearing on Wednesday to determine whether to accept the DOJ's motion to dismiss the case against the New York City mayor.

by: MSN

Judge denies request to temporarily block DOGE's mass firings, access to data

A federal judge denied an urgent request to temporarily block Elon Musk and DOGE from firing employees or accessing records from a half a dozen government agencies.

by: MSN

Is Elon Musk's Politics Costing Tesla? Questions & Concerns Arise As EV Maker's January Sales Drop

Elon Musk is not just the richest man on earth, but arguably, one of the most influential and powerful people, as he holds a close tie with the government of the biggest economy in the world, the United States.

by: MSN

Trump's firing of 1,000 national park workers raises concerns about maintenance and operating hours

The Trump administration has fired about 1,000 newly hired National Park Service employees who maintain and clean parks, educate visitors and perform other functions as part of its broad-based effort to downsize government.

by: MSN

Judge questions Elon Musk's 'unchecked authority' but won't block DOGE access at federal agencies

A federal judge said 14 states had failed to show DOGE's access to government systems would cause irreparable harm.

by: MSN

White House can't get story straight on Musk and DOGE with Karoline Leavitt and aides tied in knots

After the White House stated billionaire Elon Musk is not technically part of the Department of Government Efficiency team, Donald Trump's minions have been struggling to explain his role during multiple TV showdowns.

by: MSN

Anti-Trump Protesters Drag Elon Musk Dummy Around

A video showing a protester dragging a dummy of Elon Musk at what appears to be Monday's 50501 protest in Washington D.C. has gone viral online. Newsweek has reached out to Musk via an email to X, formerly Twitter,

by: MSN

Judge won't block Musk and DOGE from accessing data, making cuts at 7 agencies

A federal judge on Tuesday declined to stop Elon Musk and the White House's Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, from accessing data systems at seven federal agencies and firing or putting their employees on leave.

by: MSN

White House says Elon Musk is Trump's advisor and not the DOGE administrator

Musk's role could be key in legal fight over DOGE's access to government data as the Trump administration moves to lay off thousands of federal workers.

by: MSN

Moscow to sign new military deal

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Moscow is close to reaching a deal with the new Syrian government that would allow it to keep some military personnel and equipment in the country. Russian officials plan to maintain a limited military presence in Syria.

by: MSN

White House says Elon Musk is Trump's adviser and not the DOGE administrator

The White House says billionaire Elon Musk is not the administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency team that is sweeping through federal agencies, but is rather a senior adviser to President Donald Trump.

by: MSN

NY Democrats demand RFK Jr. restore cuts to 9/11 survivor program

New York Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a Monday letter to newly minted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging him to reverse recent cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that impact a program for 9/11 first responders.

by: MSN

Peace on the horizon? How US-Russia talks on Ukraine are shaping up

MailOnline looks at how talks between the Trump administration and Russia are shaping up in Saudi Arabia, as they attempt to agree on a deal to end the war in Ukraine. The move has sparked strong reactions from Zelensky and European leaders.

by: MSN

As U.S. and Putin negotiate, intel shows he's not interested 'in a real peace deal,' sources say

Intelligence from the U.S. and close allies shows Russian President Vladimir Putin still wants to control all of Ukraine, sources said.

by: MSN

DOGE says it has saved government $55B so far

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a post on its website says it has found $55 billion in savings through a combination of efforts, including a reduction in the federal workforce. It said it estimated it had realized $55 billion in savings by canceling or renegotiating leases and contracts,

by: MSN

Musk's team may access US Education Department systems, judge rules

A U.S. judge has rejected a bid to bar the government downsizing team created by President Donald Trump and spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk from accessing internal systems in the U.S. Department of Education that house federal student financial aid information concerning millions of Americans.

by: MSN

AP Reporter Nailed Over Wild Lie About DOGE, Trots Out the 'Elon's a Nazi' Narrative in Desperate Attempt to Distract

As the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency both come under media scrutiny for obvious reasons, it's not really surprising to find the Associated Press reporting on FAA layoffs coming right after the collision of American Eagle Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter just outside of Reagan National Airport

by: MSN

DOGE sued by taxpayer groups and unions over access to IRS files

The plaintiffs expressed concerns about letting the U.S. DOGE Service, led by Elon Musk, see sensitive information such as net worth and income.

by: MSN

Mahakumbh stampede: UP governor expresses grief over tragic incident on Mauni Amavasya, pays tribute to the deceased

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel addressed the joint session of both houses of the state legislature and the first session of 2025 on Tuesday. During her speech, she expressed grief over the stampede which occurred.

by: MSN

"We Americans will show you how to negotiate"

The negotiations between Washington and Moscow in Riyadh come just days after US Vice President J.D. Vance and other senior officials harshly criticized the European Union. Trump's special representative,

by: MSN

'It's nonsense!' Morning Joe uses bed bug analogy as he flips out on Elon Musk

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough pummeled Elon Musk's claims about the federal budget and the sweeping cuts imposed by his Department of Government Efficiency. Donald Trump's billionaire benefactor and his DOGE workforce have gained access to Social Security databases and other government financial systems,

by: MSN

Republicans consider cuts and work requirements for Medicaid, jeopardizing care for millions

Republicans are weighing billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, threatening health care coverage for some of the 80 million U.S. adults and children enrolled in the safety net program. The signing up of millions of additional Americans for taxpayer-funded health care coverage like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act's

by: MSN

Politics LIVE: John Healey set for major speech as Europe debates make-or-break decision

Follow our politics live blog below as John Healey takes questions about the future of UK and European defence amid Donald Trump's Ukraine chaos.

by: MSN

Ulster Unionists say recent decisions by UK government and courts are helping the IRA rewrite history

Former members of the security forces and their families must be treated with fairness and justice after the government "opened pandora's box" on legacy.

by: MSN

US and Russian officials meet for high-stakes peace talks, without Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Kyiv would not accept any peace agreements made without its participation. View on euronews

by: MSN

DOGE and Musk: The 5 biggest controversies so far

DOGE is not an official government department, despite its name. Only Congress can create new departments. But DOGE is an effort by President Trump and Musk to radically reform a
  • Wed, February 19, 2025

by: NDTV

Amid Language Row, Udhayanidhi Stalin's "Will Lose Mother Tongue" Warning

The battle between Tamil Nadu's DMK and the BJP - over the 'imposition of Hindi' - ramped up Tuesday after Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin raged that "states that had accepted Hindi today stand to lose their mother tongue".

by: MSN

"BJP, Congress and CPI(M) are together against me": Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed the opposition for deliberately preventing her from speaking in the State Assembly.She accused the BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) of ganging up against her,

Platkin and the resistance

While I very much doubt that Platkin wanted Trump to be elected, he is now part of a group of Democratic attorneys general who have arguably been the only effective resistance so far to the new administration.
The article from Politico's New Jersey Playbook discusses Attorney General Matt Platkin's involvement in a lawsuit against the Federal Highway Administration's congestion pricing plan for New York City, highlighting his resistance to the plan which could impact New Jersey commuters. Platkin's actions are part of a broader political narrative where he positions himself as a defender of New Jersey's interests against external impositions. The piece also touches on the political implications of this stance, suggesting that Platkin's legal battles could be setting the stage for future political ambitions, possibly eyeing higher office. Additionally, the newsletter covers other local political news, including reactions to the congestion pricing, updates on state politics, and mentions of key figures like Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Bob Menendez, reflecting the interconnected nature of state and local politics in New Jersey.

Read the Full Politico Article at:
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-jersey-playbook/2025/02/18/platkin-and-the-resistance-00204611